Know the difficulty level of the trail and evaluate your physical abilities and limitations. Different people experience hikes at different difficulty levels. Here's our formula for determining hiking difficulty.

Follow Leave No Trace principles including staying on trail, carrying out all trash, and leaving what you find.

Never walk around the top of a waterfall. Wet rocks are slippery and can lead to dangerous falls, potentially causing serious injury or death.

Occasionally, trails are affected by emergency operations, weather events, and for resource protection.

Rock outcrops are home to scenic views and are often popular hiking destinations. These special places are also home to fragile plants species and ecosystems. In order to better protect rock outcrop ecosystems small areas on Little Stony Man, Hawksbill, and Old Rag are closed to public access.

Choosing a Hike

With over 500 miles of trails, choosing the right hike for you will depend on how much time you have, where you are going in the park, the physical ability of yourself and your fellow travelers, and what you want to get from your experience.